Prosecutors launch probe into fake Kinmen Kaoliang

The Taipei District Prosecutors' Office yesterday launched an investigation into retailers and factories of Kinmen Kaoliang liquor after reports of fake liquor labeled as 58-percent-alcohol Kinmen Kaoliang liquor.

In cooperation with the Kinmen County Police Bureau and the New Taipei City Police Department, Prosecutor Huang Yu-ren (黃育仁) began an investigation into local factories reported as the source of the fake Kinmen Kaoliang liquor. Some of the involved sellers were summoned for questioning on suspicions of violating the Act Governing Food Sanitation (食品衛生法), Trademark Act (商標法) and charges of committing forgery and fraud, according to prosecutors.

Authorities also pointed out some of the methods which can be used to differentiate real 58-percent Kinmen Kaoliang liquor from its fake counterpart. First, the dragon pattern on the label of the real variety has a raised texture. Second, the label is printed with a watermark which bears the Chinese characters for "top quality," which can only be viewed under proper lighting. Third, the seal of the cap of the bottle is more complete and clear than that on the imitator.